Former U.S. Consular Officer. Thousands of Visa Adjudications. Now on Your Side.

Most immigration attorneys have never seen a visa petition from the adjudicator's chair. I have. I approved, denied, and held for "administrative processing" thousands of business, family, student, and exchange visitor applications as a U.S. consular officer in Beijing. I know what adjudicators look for, what raises red flags, and how to build a case that holds up.

New Federal Rule Affects F-1 and J-1 Visa Holders - Effective September 15, 2026

For the first time in nearly 50 years, international students and exchange visitors face a fixed admission period instead of open-ended "Duration of Status." Anyone applying after this date will need to formally navigate a federal process most have never encountered.

As a former consular officer who personally adjudicated hundreds of F and J visa applications, I can help you understand what's changing and how to protect your status going forward.

Our Immigration Services

Business & Employment Immigration
$0.00

H-1B specialty occupation petitions
L-1 intracompany transfers
O-1 extraordinary ability petitions
Employment-based green cards

EB-1, EB-2 (including National Interest Waiver), and EB-5 employment-based green cards
E-1, E-2, and E-3 treaty trader/investor/specialty occupation visas

Family & Green Card Immigration
$0.00

Marriage-based green cards & adjustment of status
Consular processing for spouses, children, and parents
Naturalization & citizenship

Student & Exchange Visitor (F-1/J-1)
$0.00

Extension of Status applications/ new fixed-admission rule
Program/major change guidance and restrictions
J-1 two-year home residency waivers
Status compliance and grace period planning

Stuck In Administrative Processing? Understanding the Delay Is Half the Battle.

Business, family, and student visa applicants alike can find themselves stuck in "221(g) administrative processing" - with little explanation and no clear timeline. As a former consular officer, I was involved in this exact security review process and can help you understand what's likely happening, what realistic options exist (congressional inquiries, employer or institutional follow-up, case status escalation), and what to expect going forward.

I won't promise to speed up a security review - no attorney honestly can. But I can help you stop guessing.

Background

17 years as Senior Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice. A decade as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. I speak French, and intermediate Mandarin.

Beyond my legal career, immigration isn't abstract to me. I am a first-generation American, spent my childhood years abroad, and became the first in my family to graduate high school. I understand not just the process and paperwork, but also the personal goals and dreams you are hoping to achieve.

How It Works

Step 1 — Schedule a free 15-minute case review. We'll talk through your situation and confirm it's a good fit.

Step 2 — If it makes sense to move forward, we'll schedule a full 45-minute strategy consultation ($250, credited toward your retainer if you engage our firm).

Step 3 — We build your case, together.

Have a visa deadline, a pending petition, or a status question? Let's talk.